Beverage insulator

ABSTRACT

A beverage insulator including a base member and walls which form a receptacle. The beverage insulator is preferably formed of close cell foam material or the like. The receptacle includes a top flat annular surface which opens to a tubular interior so as to provide a beverage container receiving volume. The receptacle member is configured for holding a thirty-two ounce glass or plastic bottle. The exterior surface of the receptacle member can include image information including illustration, logos, and other information.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/176,028, filed Jan. 14, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to insulating jackets and devices for fluid containers and in particular to an easily handled insulator for bottled beverages which permits direct consumption of the beverage from the bottle.

[0004] 2. Description of Related Art

[0005] Various types of container holders have long been popular for beverages stored in twelve ounce cans. These holders are typically provided with some type of insulation so as to keep the cans cool. Many consumers frequently drink beverages out of glass and/or plastic thirty-two ounce beverage bottles. Therefore, there is a need to provide consumers with a beverage insulator for glass and/or plastic thirty-two ounce beverage containers.

[0006] The related art is represented by the following patents of interest.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,741, issued on Dec. 4, 1990 to Geoffrey F. Gustafson, describes a thermally-insulated carrier with a tubular housing which accepts single- or two-serving beverage containers. The carrier is adapted to be used with a beverage can holder of a vehicle. Gustafson does not suggest a beverage insulator according to the claimed invention.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,022,549, issued on Jun. 11, 1991 to Commodore E. Beaver, describes a collapsible, thermoplastic holder for holding an insulation jacket containing a beverage container. Beaver does not suggest a beverage insulator according to the claimed invention.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,186,350, issued on Feb. 16, 1993 to Larry D. McBride, describes an insulated beverage container holder including a cylindrical, hollow-body portion connected to a cylindrical hollow cap by an integrally-molded, flexible, plastic, loop hinge. McBride does not suggest a beverage insulator according to the claimed invention.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,212,963, issued on May 25, 1993 to Barry N. McGinnis, describes a refrigerant puck for insertion into an insulated beverage container holder. McGinnis does not suggest a beverage insulator according to the claimed invention.

[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 5,406,808, issued on Apr. 18, 1995 to Alvin A. Babb et al., describes a two-liter bottle cooler including a container and a lid. Babb et al. do not suggest a beverage insulator according to the claimed invention.

[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 5,555,746, issued on Sep. 17, 1996 to Patrick Thompson, describes a container for keeping the contents of 1, 2, and 3 liter bottles chilled for extended periods of time. Thompson does not suggest a beverage insulator according to the claimed invention.

[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 5,709,105, issued on Jan. 20, 1998 to Ralph Palermo, describes a beverage container cooler proportioned for use with a standard cup holder. Palermo does not suggest a beverage insulator according to the claimed invention.

[0014] None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0015] The present invention is a beverage insulator. The beverage insulator includes a base member and a receptacle member. The beverage insulator is generally barrel-shaped to accommodate the contours of round beverage containers although it should be understood that the overall configuration can be modified in accordance with other beverage container shapes. The beverage insulator is preferably formed of close-cell foam material or the like.

[0016] The receptacle member includes a top, flat annular surface which opens to a tubular interior. The tubular interior extends downwardly through the interior of the beverage insulator so as to provide a beverage container receiving volume. The receptacle member includes a tubular exterior with a surface. The thickness of the receptacle member is the distance between the surface of the tubular interior and the surface of the tubular exterior. Preferably, the thickness of the receptacle member is about three-eights of an inch. The receptacle member is configured for holding a thirty-two ounce glass or plastic bottle and is configured with an interior diameter of about three and three-fourths inches and a height of about five inches. The inner diameter of the receptacle member is no more than and is preferably slightly less than the outer dimensions of common thirty-two ounce beverage bottles so as Ito securely hold the bottles therein. The base member is connected to the bottom of receptacle member. The base member may also have an opening. In addition, the base member may have an extended smaller diameter bottom (which is conventional in the art) which will fit in a standard cup holder.

[0017] The exterior surface of the receptacle member can include image information including illustration, logos, and other information. The beverage insulator assures that a beverage container can be kept in a cool or hot condition.

[0018] Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide an insulator which includes a receptacle member that is configured for holding a beverage container and assuring that the container can be kept in a cool or hot condition.

[0019] It is another object of the invention to provide an insulator which includes a receptacle configured for holding a thirty-two ounce beverage container.

[0020] It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in a beverage insulator for the purposes described which are inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing their intended purposes.

[0021] These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022]FIG. 1 is a front, perspective view of a beverage insulator according to the present invention.

[0023]FIG. 2A is a front view of a beverage insulator according to the present invention.

[0024]FIG. 2B is a rear view of a beverage insulator according to the present invention.

[0025]FIG. 2C is a top view of a beverage insulator according to the present invention.

[0026]FIG. 2D is a bottom view of a beverage insulator according to the present invention.

[0027] Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0028] Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 discloses a preferred embodiment of the beverage insulator of the present invention generally referenced by 10. The beverage insulator includes a receptacle member 12 and a base member 16. The beverage insulator 10 is generally barrel-shaped to accommodate the rounded shape of common beverage bottles, although it should be understood that the overall configuration can be modified in accordance with other beverage container shapes. The beverage insulator 10 is preferably formed of close cell foam material or the like.

[0029] The receptacle member 12 includes a top, flat annular surface 14 which opens to a tubular interior. The tubular interior extends downwardly through the interior of the beverage insulator so as to provide a beverage container receiving volume. The receptacle member 12 includes a tubular exterior with a surface. The thickness of the receptacle member 12 is the distance between the surface of the tubular interior and the surface of the tubular exterior. Preferably, the wall thickness of the receptacle member 12 is about three-eights of an inch. The receptacle member 12 is configured for holding a thirty-two ounce glass or plastic bottle and has an internal diameter of three and three-fourths inches. The receptacle is about five inches high. The inner diameter of the receptacle member 12 is no more than and is preferably less than the outer dimensions of common thirty-two ounce beverage bottles. The base member 16 is connected to the bottom of receptacle member 12. The base member 16 may also have an opening. In addition, the base member 16 may have an extended smaller diameter bottom which will fit in a standard cup holder.

[0030] The exterior surface of the receptacle member 12 can include image information 18,20,22 including illustration, logos, and other information, such as that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2A. The beverage insulator assures that a beverage container can be kept in a cool or hot condition. A common beverage container or bottle is typically comprised of a neck ring carrying threads for a replaceable screw-on cap. The neck is joined to the body by sloping shoulders. The body terminates at a base or bottom.

[0031] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the sole embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims. 

We claim:
 1. A beverage insulator comprising: a base member; a continuous circular wall formed on said base member, said circular wall and said base member forming a receptacle, wherein said receptacle is configured for holding a thirty-two ounce glass or plastic container.
 2. A beverage insulator according to claim 1, wherein said base member and said circular wall are made of close-cell foam material.
 3. A beverage insulator according to claim 2, wherein said receptacle includes a tubular interior and a tubular exterior, and a top flat annular surface which opens to the tubular interior.
 4. A beverage insulator according to claim 3, wherein said circular wall has a thickness of about three-eights of an inch.
 5. A beverage insulator according to claim 4, wherein said tubular interior has a diameter of about three and three-fourths inches.
 6. A beverage insulator according to claim 5, wherein said tubular exterior has a height of about five inches.
 7. A beverage insulator comprising: a base member; a continuous circular wall formed on said base member, said circular wall and said base member forming a receptacle, said receptacle having a tubular interior and a tubular exterior and a top flat annular surface which opens to said tubular interior; said circular wall having a thickness of about three-eights of an inch; said tubular interior having a diameter of about three and three-fourths of an inch; said tubular exterior having a height of about five inches, wherein said receptacle is configured for holding a thirty-two ounce glass or plastic container. 